Ballistics systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A scope may include an adjustment dial, which may be moved among a plurality of positions to configure the scope to compensate for projectile drops. The adjustment dial may be labeled with dial-calibration data, which may include one or more distance indicators and/or one or more windage hold-off indicators. The scope may be attached to a gun and the dial-calibration data may be at least partially generated using ballistics performance data based on shots fired by the gun. The dial-calibration data may be at least partially generated using shooting conditions. An electronic device may include a derived distance calculation module, which may be configured to use a distance to a target and actual shooting conditions to calculate a derived distance. The derived distance may be used in connection with an adjustment dial labeled with dial-calibration data at least partially generated using shooting conditions different from the actual shooting conditions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority and the benefit of U.S. provisionalpatent application 60/822,289, which was filed Aug. 14, 2006 andentitled RAPID FIELD BALLISTIC COMPENSATOR AND METHOD OF PROVIDING THESAME, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present application relates generally to ballistics, guns andscopes.

Description of Related Art

Hunting and target shooting are very popular activities. Becauseaccurately aiming guns may become more difficult as the distance to atarget increases, scopes are often used in connection with guns.Generally, a scope may be connected to a gun and a shooter may lookthrough the scope to view and aim at a target. But, even when using ascope, shooters may find it difficult and/or time consuming toaccurately aim at a target.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A need therefore exists for systems and/or methods that eliminate ordiminish the disadvantages and problems described above.

One aspect is a scope that may include an adjustment dial, which may bemoved among a plurality of positions to configure the scope tocompensate for projectile drops. The adjustment dial may be labeled withdial-calibration data, which may include one or more distanceindicators. In particular, the adjustment dial may be sized andconfigured to move among a plurality of positions to configure the scopeto compensate for projectile drops associated with a range of distancesto a target, and the distance indicators may be configured to indicateat least some of the distances within the range. Desirably, the distanceindicators may allow a shooter to quickly select a distance to a targetto configure the scope to compensate for a projectile drop associatedwith the selected distance.

Another aspect is a scope that may include an adjustment dial that maybe labeled with dial-calibration data, which may include one or moredistance indicators and/or one or more windage hold-off indicators. Thewindage hold-off indicators may be configured to indicate a hold-off tocompensate for an amount of deflection caused by a crosswind. Toconfigure the scope to compensate for a projectile drop associated witha particular distance to a target, the shooter may move the adjustmentdial to select the distance to the target. After the adjustment dial hasbeen moved to select the distance to the target, a reference mark'sposition relative to various windage hold-off indicators mayadvantageously allow the shooter to quickly identify a hold-off tailoredto the selected distance. The shooter may then apply the hold-off andfire the gun at the target.

A further aspect is a scope that may include an adjustment dial that maybe labeled with dial-calibration data, which may be at least partiallygenerated using one or more of the following factors: sight-height data,muzzle velocity data, dial specification data, ballistics coefficientdata, ballistics performance data, projectile-form-factor data,projectile caliber, projectile weight, air-density factors (such as,pressure data, temperature data, elevation data, humidity data and/orother air-density factors) and wind data. Significantly, using one ormore of these factors may allow more accurate dial-calibration data tobe generated—thus facilitating more accurate shooting with the scope. Ofcourse, these factors are not required and other factors may be used togenerate the dial-calibration data.

Yet another aspect is a scope that may include an adjustment dial, whichmay be used in connection with a plurality of interchangeablecomponents, such as turrets or other components. The components may belabeled with different dial-calibration data and may be sized andconfigured to be connected to and disconnected from a portion of theadjustment dial. For example, a first component may be labeled withfirst dial-calibration data that is at least partially generated usingone set of shooting conditions, while a second component may be labeledwith second dial-calibration data that is at least partially generatedusing a different set of shooting conditions. This may advantageouslyallow the adjustment dial to be used with different dial-calibrationdata tailored to the shooting conditions under which the scope is beingused. If desired, the first and second dial calibration data may be atleast partially generated based on one or more shots fired by a gumattached to the scope, which may further tailor the dial-calibrationdata to the gun.

Still another aspect is a system that may include an electronic device,which may include a derived distance calculation module. The deriveddistance calculation module may be configured to use a distance to atarget and actual shooting conditions to calculate a derived distance.The derived distance may be used in connection with a scope's adjustmentdial labeled with dial-calibration data that was at least partiallygenerated using shooting conditions different from the actual shootingconditions. Desirably, this may allow a shooter to accurately aim at atarget under shooting conditions that are different from those used togenerate the dial-calibration data, which may increase the scope'sflexibility.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more fully apparent from the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended drawings contain figures of preferred embodiments tofurther illustrate and clarify the above and other aspects, advantagesand features of the present invention. It will be appreciated that thesedrawings depict only preferred embodiments of the invention and are notintended to limit its scope. The invention will be described andexplained with additional specificity and detail through the use of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary scope;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary reticle that may be used inconnection with the scope shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the reticleaiming at an exemplary target;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the scope shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another exploded view of the scope shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a portion of the scope shown in FIG. 1,illustrating an exemplary adjustment dial;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of exemplary dial-calibration data that may be usedto label the adjustment dial shown in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are flowcharts illustrating an exemplary method;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system;

FIG. 9 is a diagram of an exemplary range card;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating another exemplary system;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an exemplary electronic device;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the electronic device shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the electronic device shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a rear view of the electronic device shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system,illustrating an exemplary configuration of an electronic device;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating another exemplary system; and

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of anelectronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is generally directed towards ballistics systemsand methods. The principles of the present invention, however, are notlimited to ballistics systems and methods. It will be understood that,in light of the present disclosure, the ballistics systems and methodsdisclosed herein can be successfully used in connection with other typesof systems and methods. A detailed description of the ballistics systemsand methods now follows.

A scope 10 shown in FIG. 1 may be used to aim a gun, such as a rifle,revolver or other gun. In particular, the scope 10 may be sized andconfigured to be connected to the gun and a shooter may look through thescope to view and aim at a target. The scope 10 preferably comprises arifle scope sized and configured to be connected to a rifle; however,the scope may be any other suitable scope and may be sized andconfigured to be connected to any other suitable gun,

As shown in FIG. 2, the scope 10 may include a reticle 12 that mayfacilitate aiming at a target 14. It will be appreciated that thereticle 12 may have any suitable shape and/or configuration and that atarget 14 may include animals (such as deer, elk, bears, varmints andthe like), inanimate objects (such as paper targets) or any othersuitable target.

As shown in FIGS. 2-5, the scope 10 preferably includes an adjustmentdial 16 (such as, a turret, a knob, a wheel, a disk or plate, or otheradjustment mechanism), which may be used to adjust the scope. Desirably,the adjustment dial 16 may be rotated or otherwise moved among aplurality of positions to configure the scope to compensate forprojectile drops associated with various distances to a target.

In further detail, as shown in FIGS. 5-6, the adjustment dial 16 mayinclude dial-calibration data 18, which may include one or more distanceindicators 20 (such as distance indicators 20 a-h) configured toindicate a distance to a target. A distance indicator 20 may include,for example, a number or other symbol 22 indicating a distance to atarget. The distance indicator 20 may also include a reference mark 24,which may be associated with the number or symbol. The distanceindicator 20, however, does not require any number or symbol 22 and maysimply include a reference mark 24, if desired.

The dial-calibration data 18 preferably includes a plurality of distanceindicators 20 configured to indicate various distances. For example, afirst distance indicator 20 may indicate a first distance to a targetand a second distance indicator 20 may indicate a second distance to atarget. Desirably, when the first distance indicator 20 is aligned witha reference mark 26 of the scope 10, the scope is preferably configuredto compensate for a first projectile drop associated with the firstdistance, and when the second distance indicator 20 is aligned with thescope's reference mark 26, the scope is preferably configured tocompensate for a second projectile drop associated with the seconddistance.

Consequently, the adjustment dial 16 may be rotated or otherwise movedwithin a range of positions in which the reference mark 26 is alignedwith, or positioned between, various distance indicators 20. When thereference mark 26 is aligned with a distance indicator 20, the scope 10is preferably configured to compensate for a projectile drop associatedwith the distance associated with the distance indicator. When thereference mark 26 is positioned between a pair of distance indicators20, the scope 10 is preferably configured to compensate for a projectiledrop associated with a distance between the distances associated withthe pair of distance indicators. Desirably, the adjustment dial 16 maybe rotated or otherwise moved within a range of discrete positions(using, for example, “clicks”) or within an at least substantiallycontinuous range of positions.

As shown in FIGS. 5-6, the dial-calibration data 18 may include thedistance indicators 20 a-h configured to indicate 200 yards, 300 yards,400 yards, 500 yards, 600 yards, 700 yards, 800 yards and 900 yards,respectively. It will be appreciated, however, that the dial-calibrationdata 18 may include any other suitable number of distance indicatorsconfigured to indicate any other suitable distances.

As shown in FIGS. 5-6, the dial-calibration data 18 may also include oneor more windage hold-off indicators 28 (such as windage hold-offindicators 28 a-g) configured to indicate a hold-off to compensate foran amount of deflection caused by a crosswind. An exemplary hold-off mayinclude a number of hash marks, dots or other such features of areticle; a minutes-of-angle (“MOA”) adjustment; and/or any othersuitable hold-off.

A windage hold-off indicator 28 may include, for example, a number orother symbol 30 indicating a hold-off for an amount of crosswinddeflection. The windage hold-off indicator 28 may also include areference mark 32, which may be associated with the number or symbol.The windage hold-off indicator 28, however, does not require any numberor symbol 30 and may simply include a reference mark 32, if desired.

The dial-calibration data 18 preferably includes a plurality of windagehold-off indicators 28 configured to indicate various hold-offs. Forexample, a first windage hold-off indicator 28 may indicate a firsthold-off for a first amount of crosswind deflection and a secondhold-off indicator 28 may indicate a second hold-off for a second amountof crosswind deflection.

The windage hold-off indicators 28 may be configured to indicate varioushold-offs depending, for example, upon the distance to a target. Infurther detail, when a windage hold-off indicator 28 is aligned with adistance indicator 20, the windage hold-off indicator 28 preferablyindicates a hold-off for crosswind deflection from a target that islocated at the distance associated with the distance indicator. When awindage hold-off indicator 28 is positioned between a pair of distanceindicators 20, the windage hold-off indicator 28 preferably indicates ahold-off for crosswind deflection from a target that is located at adistance between the distances associated with the pair of distanceindicators. Thus, the windage hold-off indicators 28 may be configuredto indicate various hold-offs depending, for example, upon the distanceto target.

Significantly, the windage hold-off indicators 28 may advantageouslyallow a shooter to quickly and easily apply a hold-off tailored to aselected distance to a target. In further detail, to configure the scope10 to compensate for a projectile drop associated with a particulardistance to a target, the shooter may rotate or move the adjustment dial16 within a range of positions in which the reference mark 26 is alignedwith, or positioned between, various distance indicators 20, asdiscussed above. After the adjustment dial 16 has been rotated or movedto select the distance to the target, the reference mark 26 may bealigned with, or positioned between, various windage hold-off indicators28, thus advantageously allowing the shooter to quickly identify ahold-off tailored to the selected distance to the target. In particular,if the reference mark 26 is aligned with a windage hold-off indicator28, the shooter may know to use the hold-off indicated by the windagehold-off indicator 28. In addition, if the reference mark 26 ispositioned between a pair of windage hold-off indicators 28, the shootermay know to use a hold-off between the hold-offs associated with thepair of windage hold-off indicators. Either way, the shooter may quicklyidentify a hold-off tailored to the selected distance to the target andthen quickly apply that hold-off.

Preferably, some or all of the windage hold-off indicators 28 may beconfigured to indicate various hold-offs for various amounts ofdeflection caused by a particular amount of crosswind, but at differentdistances to a target. For example, as shown by a notation 34 in FIG. 6,the windage hold-off indicators 28 may be configured to indicateminute-of-angle (“MOA”) adjustments that compensate for particularamount of crosswind, such as a 5 mile-per-hour (“MPH”) crosswind. Inthis example, the windage hold-off indicator 28 c includes a number “1”that indicates a 1 MOA adjustment for a 5 MPH crosswind, and the windagehold-off indicator 28 g includes a number “2” that indicates a 2 MOAadjustment for a 5 MPH crosswind. In addition, in this example, thewindage hold-off indicators 28 a, 28 b, 28 d, 28 e, 28 f respectivelyindicate a ½ MOA adjustment, a ¾ MOA adjustment, a 1¼ MOA adjustment, a1½ MOA adjustment and a 1¾ MOA adjustment for a 5 MPH crosswind. Thus,for instance, when the adjustment dial 16 has been rotated or moved toselect a distance to a target (as discussed above) and the referencemark 26 is aligned with the windage hold-off indicator 28 c, a shootermay quickly and easily see that a 1 MOA hold-off should be applied toadjust for a 5 MPH crosswind. Also, for instance, when the adjustmentdial 16 has been rotated or moved to select a distance to a target (asdiscussed above) and the reference mark 26 is positioned between thewindage hold-off indicators 28 e, 28 f, the shooter may quickly andeasily see that a hold-off between 1½ MOA and 1¾ MOA should be appliedto adjust for a 5 MPH crosswind.

In some embodiments, where a windage hold-off indicator 28 may beconfigured to indicate a hold-off for a first amount of crosswind, ashooter may quickly and easily calculate a hold-off for a second amountof crosswind by multiplying the indicated hold-off by (y/x), where x isthe first amount of crosswind and y is the second amount of crosswind.Thus, if the first amount of crosswind is 5 MPH, the indicated hold-offshould be doubled when second amount of crosswind is 10 MPH (y/x=10/5=2)or tripled when the second amount of crosswind is 15 MPH (y/x=15/5=3).Thus, when the adjustment dial 16 has been rotated or moved to select adistance to a target (as discussed above) and the reference mark 26 isaligned with the windage hold-off indicator 28 c, a shooter may quicklyand easily see that a 1 MOA hold-off should be applied to adjust for a 5MPH crosswind, a 2 MOA hold-off should be applied to adjust for a 10 MPHcrosswind or a 3 MOA hold-off should be applied to adjust for a 15 MPHcrosswind.

In the examples above, the windage hold-off indicators 28 may have beenillustrated to be configured to indicate hold offs for a 5 MPHcrosswind; however, the windage hold-off indicators 28 may be configuredto indicate hold-offs for a 1 MPH crosswind, a 2 MPH crosswind, a 5 MPHcrosswind, a 10 MPH crosswind, a 20 MPH crosswind or any larger orsmaller crosswind, if desired, In addition, although the windagehold-off indicators 28 may have been illustrated to be configured toindicate MOA hold-offs, the windage hold-off indicators 28 need not beconfigured to indicate MOA hold-offs and that the windage hold-offindicators may be configured to indicate other types of hold-offs.

As shown in FIG. 2, the reticle 12 may include one or more hash marks,dots or other such features sized and configured to indicate one or morehold-offs that may be quickly and easily used to aim at a target 14. Forexample, the reticle 12 may include hash marks 36 a-h, which mayindicate various hold-offs from a “zero point” 38. Thus, when theadjustment dial 16 has been rotated or moved to select a distance to atarget and the shooter determines the hold-off that should be applied,the shooter may aim the hash mark 36 associated with that hold-off atthe target 14. For instance, after determining that the hash mark 36 cis associated with the proper hold-off, shooters may aim the hash mark36 c at a desired portion of the target 14, as shown in FIG. 12, and mayshoot their gun.

As discussed below with reference to the various processes and systems,the dial-calibration data 18 may be at least partially generated usingone or more of the following factors: sight-height data, muzzle velocitydata, dial specification data, ballistics coefficient data, ballisticsperformance data, projectile-form-factor data, projectile caliber,projectile weight, air-density factors (suck as, pressure data,temperature data, elevation data, humidity data and/or other air-densityfactors) and wind data. Significantly, using one or more of thesefactors may allow more accurate dial-calibration data 18 to begenerated—thus facilitating more accurate shooting with the scope 10. Itwill be appreciated, however, that the dial-calibration data 18 may beat least partially generated using these factors and/or other factorsusing other processes and/or systems. Thus, the exemplary processes andsystems discussed below are not required and are merely used forillustration.

An exemplary method 38 shown in FIGS. 7A-7B may be used to make at leasta portion of the scope 10, and an exemplary system 40 shown in FIG. 8may include a range card generation module 42, a ballistics calculationmodule 44, a dial-calibration data generation module 46, an etchingapparatus 48, a label making apparatus 50 and a printing apparatus 52.Desirably, some or all of the method 38 may be performed by the system40; the range card generation module 42; the ballistics calculationmodule 44; the dial-calibration data generation module 46; the etchingapparatus 48; the label making apparatus 50; the printing apparatus 52;other systems, modules, apparatuses and the like; or any combinationthereof. Of course, the entire method 38 need not be performed; and anypart or parts of the method 38 may be performed alone, or in combinationother methods, to provide a useful result.

In further detail, the range card generation module 42 may receivesight-height data at block 54. The sight-height data preferablyindicates a position of the scope 10 relative to a gun to which thescope is attached. For instance, the sight-height data may indicate thedistance from the center axis of the scope 10 to the center axis of thebarrel of the gun. At block 56, the range card generation module 42 mayreceive dial specification data. The dial specification data preferablyindicates a range of positions among which the adjustment dial 16 may berotated or moved and how those positions configure the scope 10 tocompensate for projectile drops. For example, the dial specificationdata may indicate a one or more “clicks” among which the adjustment dial16 may be rotated or moved and how the “clicks” alter the aim of thescope 10 to compensate for projectile drops, such as, a MOA adjustmentprovided by a “click.”

At block 58, the ballistics calculation module 44 may receive firstballistics coefficient data. The first ballistics coefficient data mayindicate a ballistics coefficient, such as a ballistics coefficientprovided by a manufacturer of a projectile to be shot by the gun towhich the scope 10 is attached. At block 60, the ballistics calculationmodule 44 may receive first muzzle velocity data. The first muzzlevelocity data may indicate a muzzle velocity, such as a muzzle velocityprovided by the projectile manufacturer. At block 62, the ballisticscalculation module 44 may receive first shooting conditions data. Thefirst shooting conditions data may indicate one or more shootingconditions under which a range test is expected to be performed. Forexample, the first shooting conditions data may include first pressuredata, first temperature data, first elevation data and/or first humiditydata, which may respectively indicate the barometric pressure, thetemperature, the elevation and/or the humidity at which the range testis expected to be performed. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7A, block 62 mayinclude block 64 at which the ballistics calculation module 44 mayreceive the first pressure data, the first temperature data, the firstelevation data and/or the first humidity data. The first shootingconditions data, however, does not require the first pressure data, thefirst temperature data, the first elevation data or the first humiditydata and may include data indicating other shooting conditions.

At block 66, the ballistics calculation module 44 may generate firstprojectile trajectory data configured to indicate a trajectory for aprojectile. The ballistics calculation module 44 may generate the firstprojectile trajectory data using the first ballistics coefficient datareceived at block 58, the first muzzle velocity data received at block60, some or all of the first shooting conditions data received at block62 and/or other data (for instance, a drag model associated with aprojectile's form factor).

At block 68, the range card generation module 42 may generate a rangecard, such as a range card 70 shown in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 6, therange card 70 may include fields (such as fields 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82,84) into which shooting conditions data, ballistics performance dataand/or other data may be entered. The range card 70 may also includedistance data 86 configured to indicate one or more distances from whichprojectiles may be shot as part of a range test. The range card 70 mayfurther include dial position data 88 configured to indicate one or morepositions for the adjustment dial 16 to be used when those projectilesare shot by the gun to which the scope 10 is attached. For example, thedial position data 88 may be configured to indicate one or more “clicks”of the adjustment dial 16.

In further detail, the block 68 may include blocks 90, 92. At block 90,the range card generation module 42 may select a distance and, at block92, may generate dial position data 88 associated with the distanceselected at the block 90. Preferably, at block 92, the range cardgeneration module 42 may generate dial position data 88 that indicates aposition for the adjustment dial 16 that configures the scope 10 tocompensate for an expected projectile drop at the selected distance. Inparticular, at block 92, the range card generation module 42 preferablygenerates this dial position data 88 using the first projectiletrajectory generated at block 66, the sight-height data received atblock 54, the dial specification data received at block 56 and/or otherdata.

As shown in FIG. 7A, blocks 90, 92 may be repeated for several differentdistances. For example, blocks 90, 92 may be repeated to generate dialposition data 88 for 200 yards, 300 yards, 400 yards, 500 yards, 600yards, 700 yards, 800 yards, 900 yards and/or other distances, asillustrated by the range card 70 shown in FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 7B, a shooter may perform a range test at block 94. Forexample, the block 94 may include blocks 96, 98, 100 at which theshooter may enter second shooting conditions in the range card 70, takeone or more shots at targets positioned at various distances using thegun to which the scope 10 is attached, and enter ballistics performancedata associated with those shots in the range card 70.

In further detail, the second shooting conditions may include secondelevation data, second pressure data, second temperature data,and/second humidity data; and at block 96, the shooter may enter thesecond elevation data, the second pressure data, the second temperaturedata, and/the second humidity data into the fields 74, 76, 78, 80 of therange card 70. The second pressure data, the second temperature data,the second elevation data and the second humidity data may respectivelyindicate the barometric pressure, the temperature, the elevation and/orthe humidity at which one or more of the shots are taken at block 98.The second shooting conditions data, however, does not require thesecond pressure data, the second temperature data, the second elevationdata or the second humidity data and may include data indicating othershooting conditions.

At block 98, a shooter may take one or more shots at some or all of thedistances indicated by the distance data 86. In particular, afterpositioning the adjustment dial 16 to the position indicated by the dialposition data 88, the shooter may take one or more shots at the distanceindicated by its associated distance data 86. For example, afterpositioning the adjustment dial 16 to the position indicated by the dialposition data 88 c (twelve “clicks”), the shooter may take one or moreshots at the distance indicated by its associated distance data 86 c(400 yards). The shooter preferably takes multiple shots at eachdistance, for example, about five to ten shots at each distance. Ofcourse, more or fewer shots may be taken, if desired. The shooterpreferably takes the shots at block 98 using a particular type ofprojectile (for instance, projectiles sharing the same caliber, weight,form factor, manufacturer and/or the like) to obtain ballisticsperformance data for that particular type of projectile, as fired by theparticular gun connected to the scope 10.

As part of the range test performed at block 94, the shooter may “zero”the scope 10, for example, prior to taking some or all of the shotstaken at the block 98. For instance, as shown in the range card 70, itmay be expected that the adjustment dial 16 will require zero “clicks”to compensate for a projectile drop at 200 yards. In this example, oneor more practice shots at 200 yards may be taken to determine a positionof the adjustment dial 16 at which the scope 10 adequately compensatesfor projectile drop at 200 yards, and after taking these practice shots,the adjustment dial 16 may be recalibrated to a zero point.

In further detail, as shown in FIGS. 3-4, the adjustment dial 16 mayinclude a turret 102 that may be selectively connected to a spindle 103in a variety of relative positions using, for example, a screw 104.Consequently, with the adjustment dial 16 at which the scope 10adequately compensates for projectile drop at 200 yards, the adjustmentdial 16 may be recalibrated to a zero point by connecting the turret 102to the spindle 103 at that zero point. It will be appreciated, however,that the shooter need not “zero” the scope 10 as part of the range testperformed at the block 94.

The adjustment dial 16 may also include a stop 105, a base 106 and adust cover 107, if desired. The adjustment dial 16 may, as discussedabove, rotate or move within a range of positions to select variousdistances to a target, and the stop 105 may be configured to limit thatrotation or movement. In particular, the stop 105 may be configured tolimit the rotation of the adjustment dial 16 to one revolution or afraction of a revolution, which may help avoid confusion relating torotating the adjustment dial 16 more than one times. In addition, thismay allow the adjustment dial 16 to be quickly returned to a minimum ormaximum rotational position, if desired. The stop 105 preferably has agenerally ring-shaped configuration; however, the stop 105 may haveother suitable shapes and/or configurations. It will be appreciated thatthe adjustment dial 16 does not require the stop 105 and that theadjustment dial 16 may be configured to rotate more than one revolution,if desired.

At block 100, the shooter may record ballistics performance dataassociated with the shots taken at block 98. For example, the ballisticsperformance data may include an impact variance, such as a distanceabove or below an expected impact point. In particular, the ballisticsperformance data may include an impact variance for the distances atwhich the shots were taken, which the shooter may enter into the fields84. The impact variance may comprise, for instance, an impact variancefor a single shot taken at a particular distance or an average, a mean,a median or a mode of the impact variances for some or all of the shotstaken the particular distance. The ballistics performance data may alsoinclude a muzzle velocity, which the shooter may enter into the field72. The muzzle velocity may comprise, for instance, a muzzle velocityfor a single shot taken during the range test or an average, a mean, amedian or a mode of a muzzle velocity for some or all of the shots takenduring the range test

As shown in FIG. 7B, at block 108, the ballistics calculation module 44may receive the second shooting conditions entered at block 96 and may,at block 110, receive the ballistics performance data entered at block100.

At block 112, the ballistics calculation module 44 may calculate secondballistics coefficient data indicating a ballistics coefficient of theprojectiles shot at block 98. For example, the ballistics calculationmodule 44 may calculate the second ballistics coefficient data using theshooting conditions received at block 108, the ballistics performancedata received at block 110, the first projectile trajectory generated atblock 66 and/or other data. As mentioned above, the shooter preferablytakes the shots at block 98 using a particular type of projectile (forinstance, projectiles sharing the same caliber, weight, form factor,manufacturer and/or the like) to obtain ballistics performance data forthat particular type of projectile, as fired by the particular gunconnected to the scope 10. Thus, if the second ballistics coefficientdata is calculated using the ballistics performance data received atblock 110, the second ballistics coefficient data may more accuratelyreflect the ballistics coefficient for this particular type ofprojectile, as fired by the particular gun connected to the scope 10.

At block 114, the dial-calibration data generation module 46 may receivethird shooting conditions data and may, at block 116, generatedial-calibration data 18. At block 118, the adjustment dial 16 of thescope may be labeled using the dial-calibration data generated at block116.

In further detail, the third shooting conditions data received at block114 may indicate one or more expected shooting conditions under whichthe gun is expected to be used. For example, the third shootingconditions data may include third pressure data, third temperature data,third elevation data and/or third humidity data, which may respectivelyindicate the barometric pressure, the temperature, the elevation and/orthe humidity at which the gun is expected to be used. The third shootingconditions data, however, does not require the third pressure data, thethird temperature data, the third elevation data or the third humiditydata and may include data indicating other shooting conditions.

At block 116, the dial-calibration data generation module 46 maygenerate dial-calibration data 18, for example, the distance indicators20, the windage hold-off indicators 28 and their relative positions. Thedial-calibration data generation module 46 may generate dial-calibrationdata 18 using the second ballistics coefficient data calculated at block112, the third shooting conditions data received at block 114, theballistics performance data received at the block 110 (for instance, amuzzle velocity), the first projectile trajectory generated at block 66and/or other data (such as the sight-height data received at block 54,the dial specification data received at block 56, and/or the firstmuzzle velocity received at block 60). Significantly, if thedial-calibration data generation module 46 generates thedial-calibration data 18 using the ballistics performance data receivedat the block 110 and/or the second ballistics coefficient data, thegenerated dial-calibration data 18 may be more accurately customized tothe gun and type of projectiles shot during the range test performed atblock 94. Moreover, if the dial-calibration data generation module 46generates the dial-calibration data 18 using the sight-height datareceived at block 54 and/or the dial specification data received atblock 56, the generated dial-calibration data 18 may be more accuratelycustomized to the scope 10 and its position relative to the gun.Further, if the dial-calibration data generation module 46 generates thedial-calibration data 18 using the third shooting conditions data, thegenerated dial-calibration data 18 may be more accurately customized toparticular shooting conditions under which the scope 10 and the gun areexpected to be used.

It will be appreciated, however, that the dial-calibration datageneration module 46 may generate dial-calibration data 18 without therange test performed at block 94 or its associated ballisticsperformance data. For example, the dial-calibration data generationmodule 46 may receive sight-height data, dial specification data,ballistics coefficient data, muzzle velocity data, shooting conditionsdata, other data or any combination thereof and may use such data togenerate dial-calibration data 18 at block 116. The ballisticscoefficient data may indicate a ballistics coefficient, such as aballistics coefficient provided by a manufacturer of a projectile to beshot by the gun to which the scope 10 is attached. The muzzle velocitydata may indicate a muzzle velocity, such as a muzzle velocity providedby the projectile manufacturer. The shooting conditions data mayindicate one or more shooting conditions under which the gun is expectedto be used.

At block 118, the adjustment dial 16 may be labeled using thedial-calibration data 18 generated at block 116. For example, at block118, the etching apparatus 48 may use the generated dial-calibrationdata 18 to etch the distance indicators 20 and/or the windage hold-offindicators 28 into a portion of the adjustment dial 16, such as theturret 102. In another example, at block 118, the label making apparatus50 may use the generated dial-calibration data 18 to create a labelincluding the distance indicators 20 and/or the windage hold-offindicators 28, which label may be placed on a portion of the adjustmentdial 16, such as the turret 102. In yet another example, at block 118,the printing apparatus 52 may use the generated dial-calibration data 18to print the distance indicators 20 and/or the windage hold-offindicators 28 onto a portion of the adjustment dial 16, such as theturret 102. It will be appreciated, however, that the adjustment dial 16may be labeled using the generated dial-calibration data 18 using othersuitable means.

If desired, a plurality of turrets 102 may be interchangeably used withthe scope 10. In particular, some or all of the method 38 may berepeatedly performed to create a plurality of turrets 102 that may beinterchangeably connected to the scope 10. Significantly, this may allowthe turrets 102 to be labeled with different dial-calibration data 18that is customized to different types of projectiles, different shootingconditions, etc.

For example, a plurality of range tests may be performed to createdifferent turrets 102 suitable for different types of projectiles. Inaddition, blocks 114, 116, 118 may be repeated to label multiple turrets102 with dial-calibration data 18 generated using different shootingconditions. Thus, the turrets 102 may be customized to the differentshooting conditions under which the scope 10 and the gun are expected tobe used. In some instances, the different turrets 102 may includedial-calibration data 18 generated using different elevations (such as,2,000 feet; 4,000 feet; 6,000 feet; 8,000 feet; etc.). In suchinstances, when at a first elevation, a shooter may connect (to thescope 10) a first turret 102 having first dial-calibration data 18suitable for the first elevation; and when the shooter goes to a secondelevation, the shooter may disconnect the first turret and replace itwith a second turret 102 having second first dial-calibration data 18suitable for the second elevation.

As discussed above, the range card module 42, the ballistics calculationmodule 44 and/or the dial-calibration data generation module 46 mayreceive sight-height data, dial specification data, ballisticscoefficient data, muzzle velocity data, shooting conditions data and/orother data. As discussed below, the modules may send and/or receive thisdata in a variety of different ways.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8, the range card module 42, theballistics calculation module 44 and/or the dial-calibration datageneration module 46 may be implemented as a part of a web service 120,which may be configured to receive this data via a network, such as theInternet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), othertypes of networks, or the like. For example, the range card module 42,the ballistics calculation module 44 and/or the dial-calibration datageneration module 46 of the web service 120 may receive such data from abrowser or other software program 122, which may be operating on acomputing device 124, such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, apalmtop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone,other computing devices, and the like. In particular, the browser 122may receive and display a web page from the web service 120, and the webpage may be configured to receive user input including sight-heightdata, dial specification data, ballistics coefficient data, muzzlevelocity data, shooting conditions data, other data or any combinationthereof. For instance, in one embodiment, the range card 70 generated atblock 68 in FIG. 7A may be a web page, which a person may print out.Using this print-out, a person may manually record the second shootingconditions data and/or ballistics performance data. Afterwards, theperson may enter the second shooting conditions data and/or ballisticsperformance data into this range-card web page (or another web page) atblocks 96 and 100 in FIG. 7B. The browser 122 may then send this userinput to the web service 120 via the web page. The web service 120 maybe hosted by, for example, a suitable hardware device.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10, the range card module 42, theballistics calculation module 44 and/or the dial-calibration datageneration module 46 may be implemented as a part of an electronicdevice 126, such as a computing device, a laser range finder or othersuitable electronic device. The electronic device 126 may include adisplay 128 and one or more user input devices 130, such as a keyboard,pushbuttons, etc. The display 128 may display a user interfaceconfigured to receive user input including sight-height data, dialspecification data, ballistics coefficient data, muzzle velocity data,shooting conditions data and/or other data. For instance, in oneembodiment, the display 128 may display the range card 70 generated atblock 68 in FIG. 7A, and a person may use the user input device 130 toenter the second shooting conditions data and/or ballistics performancedata into the displayed range card at blocks 96 and 100 in FIG. 7B. Itwill be appreciated, however, that the range card module 42, theballistics calculation module 44 and the dial-calibration datageneration module 46 need not be implemented as a part of an electronicdevice 126 or a web service 120 and may be implemented in other suitabledevices, systems, etc.

As shown in FIGS. 11-15, the system 40 may include an electronic device132. The electronic device 132 preferably includes a derived-distancecalculation module 134, which may be configured to use a distance to atarget to calculate a derived distance that may be used in connectionwith an adjustment dial 16.

As mentioned above, the adjustment dial 16 may include dial-calibrationdata 18 that may be customized to a set of shooting conditions underwhich the scope 10 and the gun are expected to be used. For example, thedial-calibration data 18 may include one or more distance indicators 20customized to these expected shooting conditions.

Significantly, when the scope 10 and the gun are to be used under actualshooting conditions that differ from these expected shooting conditions,the derived-distance calculation module 134 may advantageously use adistance to a target to calculate a derived distance that, when theadjustment dial 16 has been rotated or moved to select the deriveddistance, the scope 10 is configured to compensate for a projectile dropfor the distance to the target under the actual shooting conditions. Tocalculate the derived distance, the derived-distance calculation module134 may use the distance to the target and any other suitable data, forinstance, the dial-calibration data 18, expected shooting conditionsdata, sight-height data, dial specification data, ballistics coefficientdata, muzzle velocity data, actual shooting conditions data, and/orother data. The electronic device 132 may include a display 136, whichmay advantageously display the derived distance to a shooter who mayquickly and easily rotate or otherwise move the adjustment dial 16 toselect the derived distance.

In further detail, the expected shooting conditions data may include theshooting conditions data received at block 114 of the method 38. Theballistics coefficient data may indicate a ballistics coefficient, suchas a ballistics coefficient provided by a manufacturer of a projectileto be shot by the gun or a ballistics coefficient calculated at block112. The muzzle velocity data may indicate a muzzle velocity, such as amuzzle velocity provided by the projectile manufacturer or a muzzlevelocity measured at block 100.

The actual shooting conditions data may indicate one or more shootingconditions under which the gun and the scope 10 are to be used. Forexample, the actual shooting conditions data may include pressure data,temperature data, elevation data and/or humidity data, which mayrespectively indicate the barometric pressure, the temperature, theelevation and/or the humidity at which the gun and the scope 10 are tobe used. The actual shooting conditions data may also include wind data,which may indicate an amount and/or direction of wind present when thegun and the scope are to be used. The actual shooting conditions datamay further include compass heading data and/or tilt data, which mayrespectively indicate the direction and/or the tilt (e.g., incline ordecline) at which the gun and the scope 10 are to be used.

The actual shooting conditions data may be different from the expectedshooting conditions data in a variety of ways. For example, the actualshooting conditions data may include additional types of data (such aswind data, compass heading data and/or incline data) that may not havebeen included in the expected shooting conditions used to generate theadjustment dial's dial-calibration data 18. Also for example, the actualshooting conditions data and the expected shooting conditions data mayindicate different conditions, such as different barometric pressures,temperatures, elevations and/or humidity.

The derived-distance calculation module 134 may receive thedial-calibration data 18, the expected shooting conditions data, thesight-height data, the dial specification data, the ballisticscoefficient data, the muzzle velocity data, the actual shootingconditions data and/or other data using a variety of means. In someembodiments, for example, the electronic device 132 may include abarometric pressure sensor 138, a temperature sensor 140, an elevationsensor 142, a humidity sensor 144, a wind sensor 146, a compass headingsensor 148 and/or a tilt sensor 150, which may sense actual shootingconditions and respectively send associated actual shooting conditionsdata to the derived-distance calculation module 134. In particular, thebarometric pressure sensor 138, the temperature sensor 140, theelevation sensor 142, the humidity sensor 144, the wind sensor 146, thecompass heading sensor 148 and the tilt sensor 150 may respectively sendpressure data, temperature data, elevation data, humidity data, winddata, compass heading data and tilt data to the derived-distancecalculation module 134. In some embodiments, the electronic device 132may include a GPS module that may provide the elevation data or alocation from which the elevation data may be derived.

In addition, as best seen in FIGS. 11-15, the electronic device 132 maybe a laser range finder, which may include a laser transmit and receivedevice 152. The laser transmit and receive device 152 may be configuredto transmit and receive light, for example, to help the laser rangefinder determine a distance to a target or other item, which thederived-distance calculation module 134 may use in calculating thederived distance. It will be appreciated, however, that the electronicdevice 132 does not require a laser transmit and receive device 152 andthat the electronic device 132 need not be laser range finder. Forinstance, the electronic device 132 may be a laser range finder, acomputing device or any other suitable electronic device.

In some embodiments, the derived-distance calculation module 134 mayreceive the dial-calibration data 18, the expected shooting conditionsdata, the sight-height data, the dial specification data, the ballisticscoefficient data and/or the muzzle velocity data from the computingdevice 124 (FIGS. 8 and 15) or the electronic device 126 (FIGS. 10 and16). In particular, the electronic device 132 may include an interface154, such as a USB port, FireWire® port or other interface, via whichthe computing device 124 or the electronic device 126 may send such datato the derived-distance calculation module 134 of the electronic device132. The interface 154, however, is not required and some or all of thefeatures of the electronic device 120 may be integrated into theelectronic device 132, as shown in FIG. 17. It will be appreciated thatthe electronic device 132 may receive the dial-calibration data 18, theexpected shooting conditions data, the sight-height data, the dialspecification data, the ballistics coefficient data, the muzzle velocitydata, the actual shooting conditions data and/or other data via sensors,user input (using, for instance, one or more user input devices 156) orany other suitable means.

As shown in FIGS. 15-17, the electronic device 132 may include a windagehold-off calculation module 158, which may be configured to calculate ahold-off to compensate for an amount of deflection caused by acrosswind. An exemplary hold-off may include a number of hash marks,dots or other such features of a reticle; a minutes-of-angle (“MOA”)adjustment; and/or any other suitable hold-off.

To calculate the hold-of, the windage hold-off calculation module 158may use the distance to a target, the dial-calibration data 18, theexpected shooting conditions data, the sight-height data, the dialspecification data, the ballistics coefficient data, the muzzle velocitydata, the actual shooting conditions data and/or other data that thederived-distance calculation module 134 may or may not use to calculatethe derived distance. In some embodiments, the windage hold-offcalculation module 158 may receive this data in a variety of waysincluding, but not limited to, the ways discussed above that thederived-distance calculation module 134 may receive this data.

The display 136 of the electronic device 132 may advantageously displaythe hold-off to a shooter who may quickly and easily apply the hold-off.If desired, the display 136 of the electronic device 132 mayadvantageously be configured to display the hold-off, the deriveddistance, or both.

As shown above, the methods and systems described above can beimplemented using one or more modules, which may include, for example,software and/or hardware. The software and/or hardware may include webservices, object-oriented software components, class components, taskcomponents, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines,segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data,databases, data structures, tables, arrays, variables, fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), processors, computing devices, firmware, othersoftware components and/or other hardware components. If desired, thefunctionality provided for in the modules discussed above may becombined into fewer modules or further separated into additionalmodules, if desired,

Although this invention has been described in terms of certain preferredembodiments, other embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill inthe art are also within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, thescope of the invention is intended to be defined only by the claimswhich follow.

1-21. (canceled)
 22. A method of creating a label or an etching for an adjustment dial used to adjust a scope for a gun, said method comprising the steps of: receiving ballistics performance data, said ballistics performance data being associated with shots taken during a range test using the gun to which the scope is attached, wherein the adjustment dial is rotated among indicated positions during the range test; providing a dial-calibration data generation module for generating said dial-calibration data using said ballistics performance data; and creating said label or etching for said adjustment dial using said dial-calibration data, said label or etching including distance indicators, wherein said label or etching is created by at least one of an etching apparatus, a label making apparatus, and a printing apparatus.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said ballistics performance data comprises impact variance data from one or more shots taken during the range test.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said impact variance data comprises one or more distances above or below an expected impact point for one or more shots taken at a particular distance during the range test.
 25. The method of claim 22, wherein said ballistics performance data is received via the Internet.
 26. The method of claim 22, wherein said dial-calibration data generation module is implemented as a part of a web service.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein said web service receives said ballistics performance data from a browser or other software program operating on a computing device.
 28. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of: receiving expected shooting conditions data, said expected shooting conditions data including one or more conditions under which the gun is expected to be used; wherein said dial-calibration data is generated using said ballistics performance data and said expected shooting conditions data.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein said expected shooting conditions data includes at least one of pressure data, temperature data, elevation data and humidity data at which the gun is expected to be used.
 30. The method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of: receiving expected shooting conditions data for conditions under which the gun is expected to be used, said expected shooting conditions data including one or more of the following: pressure data; temperature data; elevation data; and humidity data; generating said dial-calibration data using said ballistics performance data and said expected shooting conditions data.
 31. The method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of: receiving at least one of: ballistics coefficient data provided by a manufacturer of a projectile to be shot; muzzle velocity data provided by the projectile manufacturer; and shooting conditions data under which the range test is expected to be performed; and generating a projectile trajectory using at least one of said ballistics coefficient data, said muzzle velocity data and said range test expected shooting conditions data.
 32. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of generating a range card using said projectile trajectory.
 33. The method of claim 32, wherein said range card includes: distance data indicating one or more distances from which projectiles may be shot as part of the range test; and dial position data indicating one or more positions for the adjustment dial to be used when said projectiles are shot by the gun to which the scope is attached.
 34. The method of claim 32, wherein said ballistics performance data may be entered into said range card.
 35. The method of claim 22, wherein said label or etching further includes windage hold-off indicators.
 36. A method of creating a label or an etching for an adjustment dial used to adjust a scope for a gun, said method comprising the steps of: receiving expected shooting conditions data, said expected shooting conditions data including one or more conditions under which the gun is expected to be used; providing a dial-calibration data generation module for generating dial-calibration data using said expected shooting conditions data; and creating said label or etching for said adjustment dial using said dial-calibration data, said label or etching including distance indicators, wherein said label or etching is created by at least one of an etching apparatus, a label making apparatus, and a printing apparatus.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein said expected shooting conditions data includes at least one of pressure data, temperature data, elevation data, and humidity data at which the gun is expected to be used.
 38. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of: receiving ballistics performance data, said ballistics performance data being associated with shots taken during a range test using the gun to which the scope is attached; wherein said dial-calibration data is generated using said ballistics performance data and said expected shooting conditions data.
 39. The method of claim 36, wherein said label or etching further includes windage hold-off indicators.
 40. A method of creating a label or an etching for an adjustment dial used to adjust a scope for a gun, wherein said adjustment dial is rotatable among a plurality of positions to configure the scope to compensate for projectile drops associated with various distances to a target, wherein said label or etching includes distance indicators, wherein the improvement comprises: receiving shooting conditions data under which a range test is performed, said range test shooting conditions data including at least one of the following: pressure data; temperature data; elevation data; and humidity data; receiving ballistics performance data obtained during said range test, said ballistics performance data including one or more distances above or below an expected impact point for one or more shots taken at a particular distance during the range test; providing a dial-calibration data generation module for generating dial-calibration data using said range test shooting conditions data and said ballistics performance data; and providing one of an etching apparatus, a label making apparatus, and a printing apparatus for creating said label or etching for said adjustment dial using said dial-calibration data.
 41. A system for creating a label or an etching for an adjustment dial used to adjust a scope for a gun, said system comprising: a dial-calibration data generation module that receives expected shooting conditions data and generates dial-calibration data using said expected shooting conditions data; and at least one of an etching apparatus, label making apparatus and printing apparatus that uses said dial-calibration data to create said label or etching for said adjustment dial.
 42. The system of claim 41 further comprising a ballistics calculation module that generates a projectile trajectory using one or more the of the following: ballistics coefficient data provided by a manufacturer of a projectile to be shot; muzzle velocity data provided by the projectile manufacturer; and shooting conditions data under which a range test is expected to be performed.
 43. The system of claim 42 further comprising a range card generation module that generates a range card, wherein said range card includes: distance data indicating one or more distances from which projectiles may be shot as part of the range test; and dial position data indicating one or more positions for the adjustment dial to be used when said projectiles are shot by the gun to which the scope is attached.
 44. The system of claim 41, wherein said expected shooting conditions data includes at least one of pressure data, temperature data, elevation data, and humidity data at which the gun is expected to be used.
 45. The system of claim 41, wherein said expected shooting conditions data is received by said dial-calibration data generation module via the Internet. 